CH.365 eting the King
Finally, the day had co. The day I would et the King, and after that I could move HoBase out from above the capital and do whatever I really wanted. … aka. I’d probably take HoBase towards Alewatch, at least temporarily, so we could do so dungeon diving in TinaWood, while also visiting a few of the surrounding towns like Yuva and Kra.
But enough about future plans, I have to get through today first. And it wasn’t just who had an important eting to get to, because both Alice and Lua had been invited to have tea with Her Majesty the Queen. I don’t know why she decided the sa day as when I was eting her husband was a good day for that, but I’m not going to question the Royalty.
As a preparation for this day, yesterday, I t with His Highness Prince Elias. He gave a quick rundown on what should happen and so on, but also warned that his Father might go off the script at so point, so I should expect sothing that he couldn’t warn about. Not that I’m one to say anything about that. I’m also as impulsive as anything.
Of course in preparation for the eting, I put on a suit. And not my old one, but a new one Wilma made for . I didn’t know she had the skills to do that, but apparently she does. Sothing about armor making requiring sewing skills. The new one wasn’t amazing by any ans, I an, I didn’t let her use legendary materials for it or anything, but it was higher quality than my previous one, so it is fine. I had also upgraded the color from brown, which is usually seen as the cheapest, to a nice black color. I definitely prefer black myself, and being able to produce fabrics that are pure black, not so wannabe black, made for a good looking suit. I think the gold terminal on my revealed left forearm also just goes super well with the black suit.
On my right arm, I had a bracelet made of just gold, but it had a beautiful magic stone embedded in it, made/converted by Alice and Lua, with so help from Dark Sage. I really liked having it, because it was a clear sign that I was taken.
For my ride, I was of course in my own carriage. I actually ended up making another copy of it using HoBase, just so Alice and Lua also have a carriage for today.
But because I was heading for the castle, I wanted to have a horse pulling my carriage. Sadly, I can’t summon just a horse. I an, I have Nightmare Horse, which is a bit too scary. I also have Chiron the Mage and Mystic Horseman, but having a centaur pull my carriage might be a bit egotistical. And The Trojan Horse really isn’t an option because of its size.
Spoiler
[collapse]
I did consider using Shrink to shrink down The Trojan Horse, but even after halving its size with Shrink, The Trojan Horse was still too large to pull a regular sized carriage.
Spoiler
Snipe Hunter, Allure Queen LV3, Barrier Statue of the Heavens, Barrier Statue of the Drought, Man Beast of Ares, Stray Asmodian, Level Down!?, Instant Fusion, Allure Queen LV5
[collapse]
Spoiler
CDIP 2
Abaki, Barrier Statue of the Abyss, Alien Infiltrator, Combo Fighter, Blast Asmodian, Alien Mars, Chain Detonation, Corruption Cell "A", Rampaging Rhynos
[collapse]
Spoiler
CDIP 3
Barrier Statue of the Heavens, Justi-Break, Linear Accelerator Cannon, Chain Strike, Queen's Bodyguard, Alien Infiltrator, Chain Detonation, Blast Asmodian, Blasting Fuse
[collapse]
Spoiler
CDIP 4
Snipe Hunter, Accumulated Fortune, Linear Accelerator Cannon, Barrier Statue of the Drought, Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, Alien Mars, Queen's Bodyguard, Cyberdark Keel, Vanity's Ruler
[collapse]
Spoiler
CDIP 5
Snipe Hunter, Allure Queen LV3, Straight Flush, Blast Asmodian, Barrier Statue of the Drought, Linear Accelerator Cannon, Barrier Statue of the Torrent, Alien Mars, Degenerate Circuit
[collapse]
I only had ti for five packs before the civil official who brought to this room returned and asked to co with him. But from those five packs, I did manage to pull Cyberdark Keel, so that is nice.
Following the official, he gave the final rundown on how the eting is supposed to go, how I’m supposed to act and so on. Nothing I haven’t heard three to five tis already, but still nice of them to remind new nobles who might be nervous as anything at this ti. Honestly speaking, I was quite calm. Every interaction I’ve had with the Royal family has been mostly positive, and now that the genderbent Hero’s party is on my side, escaping this country won’t be any problem, if I sohow manage to piss off the King. Not that I’m expecting that I’d do that.
I was guided to a pair of large doors, with a total of four ard knights guarding them. Each of them had the Royal Knight emblem on their armor. They took a quick look at before two of them began opening the doors leading to … well, I’ll see in a second I guess.
Beyond the doors was a reasonably large hall, with the throne on a raised platform at the end. And apparently the King was already waiting for , because he was already sitting on the throne, but I didn’t dare to look at him for too long, because of the etiquette. So after just a quick glance, I looked a bit more down, focusing on where I was soon going to kneel. But because of the quick glance I took, Tahlia was able to screenshot it, and Laura brough the picture up as a hud-like elent at the corner of my vision so I could check it out in more detail, as I walked forward. Behind , the two guards who opened the door then closed it, leaving themselves on the inside of the room, while the official who guided here also ca inside the room, before quickly breaking off to the right and standing next to the wall.
Other than the King, on the raised platform there were five other people. Two of them I knew, but the three others not so much. For one of them, I can make an educated guess and assu that he is the first Prince, considering that he is sitting down on what looks to be the third largest seat on the platform. The second largest was actually empty, and it was probably for the Queen. Next to the first Prince’s seat was a seat for the Second Prince, Prince Elias, and next the the Queen’s seat, there was a seat for Princess Nevelle, though judging from her hair length, the girl sitting there was just half of her, her Vele half to be precise. I wonder if Nel is with her mother so that she can enjoy the teati with Alice and Lua?
The fifth person on the raised platform was a Royal knight standing right behind the King’s throne. He was difficult to spot, but my vision is quite good, so he was visible. The last person was who I think is the Pri Minister. At least he matches the description I got. He was standing between the King’s and the first Prince’s seats.
Other than the people on the platform, a few nobles were also present, standing on both sides of the hall. I didn’t know basically any of them, so I can probably just ignore them. There were also more Royal Knights, but again, I’ll just ignore them, because they shouldn’t do anything.
When I reached the appropriate spot, again without daring to look up at the King before given the permission, I kneeled down and faced the ground, waiting for the permission to look up.
After kneeling for just a few seconds, I heard soone speak up.
“You may look up.”
I did as ordered, not knowing if the one that spoke to was the King, or the PM. Not that it really matters.
Now that I got a good look at the King, I saw a kind looking man, but he really didn’t look to be at an age where he should have a child as old as Elias. And Elias isn’t even the firstborn. In fact, looking at the two Princes and the King, you could almost assu that all three of them are brothers. Well, I suppose the two Princes are clean shaven, while the King does have a short beard, so maybe that might give sothing away, but still. The King didn’t look a day over 40, when he should have been pushing towards 50. Like all of his children, the King had red hair, though his seed just a bit darker than that of his children, the sa red color also going for his beard.
As I was looking up at him, the King finally spoke up, making realize that the person who had given the permission to look up must have been the PM.
“Honorary Baron Brian Wood. I am thankful for the services you have given to this country. Not only did you found a new dungeon, you protected a city from dragons and assisted in defeating two SS-rank monsters, you also brought to light an illegal slave smuggling organization. For all of these services, I thank you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” I responded as previously instructed.
“While I would have loved to give you your title myself, my son just had to go and do it before I had the chance. So in light of that, Honorary Baron Brian Wood, would you like to upgrade your peerage from an honorary one to a permanent one?” The King asked.
Oh god. We are off the script now. Well, I suppose I must improvise then.
“If that is Your Majesty’s will, I shall accept.” I began. “However, I do believe I can do more for this country, so perhaps you would be willing to wait for to gain a better accomplishnt first.” This wouldn’t solve anything, but it might buy so ti to think about things. As well as just talking about this with Alice and Lua.
“I will accept that. I do expect great things from you.” The King agreed.
After a bit more ti of kneeling on the ground, and the King basically just having quick questions about the items inside the magic fanny pack, our eting was done and I left the room. From there, the sa civil official that guided in took back to the waiting room I was in previously. He also complinted on the quick thinking for the response I gave to the King.
I was asked to wait in the room for a bit, in case the King wanted an unofficial eting, so I contacted Alice and Lua. They had arrived at the Queen’s villa, and as I guessed earlier, Nel half of Nevelle was there.
After a bit more of a wait, soone did co to see . But it wasn’t His Majesty the King, but instead the second Prince.
“Hello Brian. Sorry to barge in.” He set the tone for the conversation.
“Don’t worry about it Elias. … is that fine that we keep this casual?” I asked to confirm. I know he was casual, but we are inside the castle, so maybe I should call him with honorifics?
“We are friends, right?” Elias asked. “Just call like you would any other friend.”
“Elias it is then. So, what did you want to talk about?”
“Nothing much really. But I did want to know. You gave both His and Her Majesties so interesting bracelets. Why didn’t I get any?” He asked.
“Because I hadn’t made any when I t with you after I arrived in the capital, and I wanted to give all the ones I had ready to His Majesty, so I couldn’t have given you one yesterday.” I answered him honestly. Well, mostly honestly. I could have made him one, I just wanted the King to obtain one before his son got one. “I can make a few and have Cressida bring them to you, if you’d like.” I then offered.
“Yes. Please do.” Elias agreed. “... and what of the knives made of Ursa Major’s claws? Would ..?”
“Nope. Not possible.” I quickly said. “I’m out of materials.” I lied. Honestly I just wanted to keep the rest of the Ursa Major claws for making star titanium.
“... I see.”
“But I might have sothing else, if you give a bit of ti.” I offered. “See, and I know this isn’t on official record so this is just between the two of us, just a few days ago, Alice, Lua and I happened to take down a Fenrir, so I have so interesting materials from it.”
“A … A fenrir? Like an SS-rank fenrir, and not a lesser fenrir?” Elias asked.
“Yeah. An SS-rank Fenrir.”
“... Where? When?”
“As I said a few days ago. The location was near the Ruiso and Narra border in an uninhabited area. If you have a map, I can show the exact location.”
“... I do not see the need to know the exact location, as long as you ensure everything is fine.”
“Yeah, we didn't break anything other than a few trees, and I made sure to fix the forest afterwards.”
“Good. You really go above and beyond. ... as for making sothing for ... Would you?”
“Yes. I might be able to make sothing of it. Is there sothing you prefer? A staff? A sword? A dagger? Maybe armor?” I asked.
“... We are friends, right? A friend will accept any gift, so I’ll let you choose.” Elias said.
“Alright. I’ll make sothing amazing.” I agreed. “What do you think your brother would like?” I then asked.
“... My brother?” Elias asked.
“Yes. I don’t think giving just one of you sothing would be a good idea. While I understand our friendship, in the eyes of the other nobles, that might be shown as picking sides, so I’d prefer to stay at least sowhat neutral for now. I don’t know your brother, after all.”
“Yes. Better not to judge soone you don’t know.” Elias agreed. “... My brother is quite the fan of hidden weapons like sword canes and wrist daggers. Perhaps one of those?” Elias suggested.
“Thanks. I’ll see what I can do.”
Elias and I spoke for a little longer, mainly him asking if I’d take him dragon riding again, as well as him asking questions about HoBase. I of course told him that I’d soon be revealing HoBase, and I was going to invite him.
After our discussion, the civil official said that the King would not be having an unofficial eting with , so I was guided out of the castle, and I left the castle grounds.
I think it went okay. I didn’t even piss anyone off, and now I have a new project to work on with Wilma. Though I have to say, I really wasn’t expecting to work on a sword cane. I think it will be a fun project.
Reviews
All reviews (0)